Americas on Eve of Invasion Chapter 11 DIRECTIONS: THOROUGHLY READ Chapter 11, pgs Print the PwrPt outline (select “handouts”, 3 slides per pg) Take notes AND answer the questions within the outline Aztecs Incas

Historicize  Serve as “RVCs”, but built on corn  Olmec ( BCE) No writing, but impressive calendars & art Religious inspired: pyramids, statues succeeded in 400 CE – 800 CE by: Postclassic Mesoamerica,  Maya In Yucatan Peninsula Important city-state = Chichén Itzá  Teotihuacan In Central Mexico Americas’ 1 st great city

Toltec Heritage  1000 – 1150 CE Empire in C. Mexico w/ military ethic & sacrifice Legend of Topiltzin & Quetzalcoatl Influence Anasazi & Hopewell groups The Aztec Rise to Power  Aztecs = militant & religious Power drawn from military strength, connection to Toltec culture Use marshy island to end wandering: Tenochtitlan

The Aztec Social Contract  Expansion & conquest results in change  Aztecs: chosen to serve gods Ritual human sacrifice grows

Religion & Ideology of Conquest  Polytheistic: world of gods connected to natural world Many deities, each w/ different manifestations  Worship grouped into 3 cults Gods of Fertility & Agriculture  example: Tlatoc Gods of Creation Gods of Sacrifice & Warfare  example: Huitzilopochtli 1 of 2

Religion & Ideology of Conquest  Most important ritual = sacrifice Human-Gods relationship Expansion of Toltec traditions under Aztec  Additional complexity: Spiritual unity Addressed life’s central questions Fatalistic view of world 2 of 2

QUESTION SLIDE  Answer the following question in your note taking space:  Compare & contrast the Aztec religion with Hinduism.

Feeding the People: The Economy  Large population required large, stable food source Tribute from conquered lands Traditional ag by peasants = chinampas  Social Structure Clans = farming (some set aside) Exceptions: Nobility, Pochteca  Heavily state-controlled

Aztec Society in Transition Widening Social Gulf  Aztecs’ original social structure Calpulli – clans organized the empire  All people belonged to one, but…  Ranked based on leadership, marriage, military achievements 1 of 2

Widening Social Gulf  Expansion: transforms classes Clans weaken & class divisions emerge  Classes reinforced by uniforms & clothing 1. Nobility  Powerful administrators & powerful military leaders 2. Small middle group  Scribes, artisans, healers, pochteca 3. Commoners  Worked estates like serfs at will of nobles  Class reinforced by clothing 4. Slaves 2 of 2

Overcoming Tech Constraints  Women: complementary role but subordinate Helped in fields & reared children Cooked & prepared food  Lack of technology Limited social development Political-religious system based on intimidation

A Tribute Empire  Gov’t = collection of city-states 1. “Great Speaker” = ruler of Tenochtitlan  Acted as emperor 2. Prime Minister = chief advisor 3. Governing Council 4. “Speaker” 1 of 2

A Tribute Empire  Empire never fully integrated Tribute concentrated power, but… Local rulers given independence  Success = domination, not administration  Failure = division, fear, tribute 2 of 2

Historicize  Geography of mtns dividing valleys makes broad civilization difficult However, several small states of interdependent regions: coasts, highlands, valleys  Serve as “RVCs”, but built on potatoes Chavin & Moche ( BCE): religious & architectural heritage Huari & Tihuanaco ( CE): establish highland terrace ag in cultural hearth of Inca Chimor ( CE): economic & artistic heritage Twantinsuyu: World of the Incas

The Inca Rise to Power  1350 CE—clans of common language draw on tradition Center empire around city = Cuzco Pachacuti: emperor united group, began territorial expansion “Twantinsuyu” or “Inca Empire” formed  Armies conquer areas from Ecuador to Chile Controlled 3000 miles, 9-13 million people of different ethnicities & languages

Conquest & Religion  Reason for expansion? Split inheritance  Central to religion = cult of the Sun Temple of the Sun  Lesser local animistic deities Served at temples by clans, priests, & women Offerings & sacrifices given Centers of festivals, rituals

Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule  Central authority, provincial bureaucracy & local autonomy  Integration of diversity based on reciprocity 1 of 2

Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule  Economic considerations Communities aimed at self-sufficiency, supported by state control  Class considerations Equal & interdependent genders? Nobility & Priests vs. Yanas & Ayllus 2 of 2

Inca Cultural Achievements  Art  Record keeping  Infrastructure

QUESTION SLIDE  Answer the following question in your note taking space:  Compare and contrast the Incas and Aztecs?

How Many People?  Estimates for Western Hemisphere vary  Historical context Other Peoples of the Americas

Differing Cultural Patterns  Ecological variety = development continuum Chiefdom societies Mixed societies (agriculture & hunting) Hunter-gatherer societies  Commonalities

QUESTION SLIDE  Answer the following question in your note taking space:  In what ways do the Americas challenge our definition of civilization?

World Context & Global Connections  Isolation from world system clearly mattered